Major Success Against Maoists: Security Forces Kill 26, Including Top Leaders
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2021-11-15 05:53:21
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The security forces were successful in intercepting top Maoists in Gadchiroli district in the Gyarapatti-Kotgul forest area on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border and eliminated as many as 26 (the final count might increase) ultras after a long gun battle. This is a huge intelligence win as after getting precise inputs about the movement of top Maoist leaders from Chhattisgarh to Maharashtra, the security forces planned an impeccable interception, surrounded the ultras, blocked all their escape routes and retaliated swiftly and with intent to liquidate them when the Maoists attacked on being challenged.
Sources have said that among the dead were top Maoist leaders such as Milind Teltumbde, a central committee member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) who was in charge of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh zones and was considered a pioneer of the concept of "urban Maoism". Also reported killed were Shuklal Parcheki, the divisional committee member and Prabhakar, a leader of the Maoist Company No. 4 formation. This will deal a huge blow to the ultras and lift the spirits of the security forces who were repeatedly outwitted by the ultras in recent times. Teltumbde was a top leader in the Maoist-infested area and his death will create a temporary vacuum, both in terms of leadership and planning and execution. The time is now ripe for the security forces to launch a sustained drive to flush out the remaining Maoists.
On the other hand, just conducting operations will not be enough. The government must send interlocutors to talk to the Maoists and make them surrender, promising not to move against them if they change ways and return to mainstream life. It must also look into the grievances of the local people and develop the area so that even if Maoists regroup, they do not find sympathy from the locals. The problem will not go away only by eliminating some ultras. Any long term solution is possible only if the government wins the confidence of the people and that is possible only if they are made partners in development and progress.
